Method of processing stillage

Abstract

A method for processing of byproducts in an ethanol production process is provided. The method includes applying a mixture of a microorganism to a stillage stream, metabolizing gums in the stillage stream using the mixture to release oil in the gums carried by the stillage stream and recovering the oil. Methods of liberating or releasing bound oil present in stillage are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of processing stillage in an ethanol production process, the method comprising fermentation of a stillage stream with microorganisms of the class Bacilli which produce organic acids, wherein said microorganisms are added directly to said stillage stream. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanol production process is a dry-milling ethanol production process. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stillage is whole stillage resulting from the production of ethanol from grains in dry milling ethanol. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is of the order Lactobacillales. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the genus  Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus  and  Bacillus.    
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the species  Plantarum, Casei , and  Acidilactici.    
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic acid is lactic acid. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stillage is thin stillage resulting from the production of ethanol from grains in dry milling ethanol. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is applied and propagated by fermentation after distillation of ethanol. 
     
     
       10. A method of treating stillage comprising fermentation of a whole stillage stream with a microorganism of the class Bacilli which produces organic acids. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the whole stillage is processed to form thin stillage prior to the step of fermenting with a microorganism. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the microorganism is applied and propagated by fermentation after distillation of ethanol. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the microorganism is of the order Lactobacillales. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the genus  Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus  and  Bacillus.    
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of the species  Plantarum, Casei , and  Acidilactici.    
     
     
       16. A method of processing stillage comprising propagating a microorganism of the class Bacilli in stillage, wherein the microorganism produces organic acids, wherein the microorganism is applied and propagated by fermentation after distillation of ethanol and applied directly the stillage stream. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterial microorganism of the order Lactobacillales.